RECOGNIZING HEALTH HAZARDS

1. RECOGNIZING HEALTH HAZARDS • Material inventory • A material inventory is used for keeping an account of raw materials, intermediate and end l)roducts. waste products and by-products. It is tailored to meet the specific requirements of local circumstances taking into consideration the following: • a. Who will use the inventors’ • safety advisers and representatives • occupational hygienists • Doctors • nurses • emergency service personnel • purchasing staff.

2. What information is required • the nature of the materials, i.e.. composition, physical data, fire and explosion data, basic toxicological and safety data. etc. • the use of the material, including storage, handling and control procedures. first aid. etc. • administrative details i.e., trade and chemical names, company reference numbers, address of manufactures/suppliers, label Ii rig and packing requirements, waste disposal. etc.

3. How the inventory will be updated • any new substances should be considered from a health and safety view point before purchasing, use and inclusion in the inventory. • for existing materials, health and safety staff should have a system for ensuring through their information sources, that the hazard data contained in the data sheet is the best information currently available. • the availability of computerized data-handling systems augments the use of a materials inventory.

4. Process Inventory The aim is to document hazards associated with each process and to record how each is being managed and controlled. The process inventory should include details of: • the process • the materials involved (including intermediate and waste) • points of material entry and exit • normal operating procedures • potential hazards • the potential for emissions into the atmosphere • the potential for exposure • arrangements for engineering controls • other precautions including protective equipment.

5. The process inventory also provides the opportunity to document hazards other than those associated with chemicals. e.g. heat. noise and radiation, and to include disposal procedures for hazardous waste products. The inventory could be hased on: • flow of a particular product or material • departmental or equipment flow geographic location.

6. Walk-through occupational hygiene survey • A walk-through survey of premises permits observation of all plant operations and is carried out to make a preliminary assessment of potential hazards. Possible sources and potential contaminants from specific types of processes can he identified. The walk-through survey provides an important opportunity to meet plant personnel and to interact with engineers, foremen and other workers who know the process problems and are aware of complaints or symptoms among workers.

7. a. General principles addressed by the walk-through survey • Hazards present in the work place • Estimate/likely scale of the identified hazards • The control measures currently in force for each hazard • Procedures implemented to maintain the control measures • The monitoring required.

8. b. Survey methods Surveys are usually carried out without the use of rneasLlring instruments. Much of the information required can he assembled in advance of the survey • survey report forms • notepad or dictation machine • plan of premises • Camera • smoke tubes. • The occupational hygienist proceeds through each of the work areas, preferably in accordance with the working functions, often commencing with production from goods inward to dispatch, and preferably accompanied in each area of the premises by either a local supervisor or engineer with general responsibilities.

9. Sources information used during the survey are: • Workers involved in their daily tasks • Senses of smell, hearing and touch for detection of odours, heat and noise • Photography for documenting the general visual appearance of each environment and any activity deserving further attention • Smoke tube test for local exhaust ventilation • Observation, the key to an effective survey, noting any ergonomics problems e.g.. poorly designed lighting, unsafe working practices. unguarded equipment. etc.

10. c. Reports The report should be written clearly and concisely and should be structured as follows: • Introduction • Summary of immediate hazards and action taken recommended to resolve the problem permanently and/or temporarily pending further evaluation • Summary of hazards requiring further monitoring/evaluation • Walk-through survey report forms as completed during survey • Discussions of methods arising from survey • Proposed occupational hygiene work plan. • Summary of a survey.

11. d. Summary of a Survey • A survey is a preliminary assessment designed to identify hazards and control measures. carried out by competent staff with the help of local supervising staff • It should be comprehensive by location and by time for cyclical/occasional processes. • It is a necessary prelude to detailed investigations of specific hazards. • It is necessary to gather a range of data pertaining to the subject in order to fully prepare for the survey. • The two main elements of the survey data are the workforce and observation • Photography is very important • Reports should be structured carefully and he concise.

12. Walk through survey report Introduction • Who is doing the walk through survey • Date and place of walk through survey. • Define objectives of walk through survey. • Evaluating occupational exposures of chemical and physical Hazards (styrene , noise) • Observing the effectiveness of engineering exposure-control measures. • Brief description of the facility to be checked as regards; products, processes, No of employees, main activities.

13. Review of chemical and physical hazards encountered (styrene and noise) • Detailed description of how styrene is used and its health hazards and TLVS. • Facility and process description • Description of all involved processes and their buildings in details. • Preliminary survey of chemical or physical hazards (detector tubes for styrene). • Results of preliminary (approximate) survey.

14. Results of Styrene Detector Tube Samples taken throughout the U.S. Marine Inc., Arlington, Washington Facility Conclusion: of the main findings of walk through survey in the facility. References:

15. In depth survey report. Abstract • Summary of the whole survey including; objectives, methodology main results and conclusion and recommendations. Introduction: • Who is doing the in-depth survey. • Date and purpose of in depth survey. • Assess occupational exposures to styrene vapors. • Evaluate effectiveness of engineering exposure-control measures. • Evaluate noise exposure during operations. • Types of samples. • Main contents of report • Study methods • Results • Recommendations • Styrene usage and the hazards of exposure to styrene and noise • Facility and process description and control measures (ventilation) • Respiratory protection policy

16. Methods • Air sampling for styrene • Types of samples and their purpose. • Analysis methodology in details. • Description of samplers (sorbent tubes) and how they are used. • Location of sampling cleared in a flow diagram of the plants. • Computation of styrene breathing zone concentration. • Noise measurements. • Types of measurement; personal and area. • Instrument used and number of measurements. • Details of using dosimeter • Evaluation criteria for styrene and Noise: • OSHA permissible exposure limits (PEL). • NIOSH recommended exposure Limits (REL). • American conference of governmental industrial hygienists (ACGIH) threshold limit values (TLV).

17. Location of Area Samples in Plant 7

18. Location of Area Samples in Plant 6

19. Results: Air sampling of styrene: • Personal breathing zone and general area air samples tables which illustrates • Type of sample (personal or area) • Job title of personal samples or specific location of area samples. • Sample time, volume and concentration • Statistical analysis of results • Presentation of results in figures.

20. Ventilation assessment • Using smoke tubes and hot-wire anemometer measurements (hood face velocity). • Effectiveness of ventilation and reasons of ineffectiveness and how to improve it • Results of ventilation assessment illustrating local exhaust ventilation system performance, average face velocity and estimated volumetric airflow rate. • Noiseexposure results: • Summarizes personal and area exposure dosimetry measurements. • Average and standard-deviation of the measurements based on NIOSH and OSAH criteria.

21. Results of full-shift air sampling for styrene, Plant 6, Personal Breathing-Zone Samples

22. Results of full-shift air sampling for styrene, Plant 6, General-Area Samples

23. Results of full-shift air sampling for styrene, Plant 7, General-Area Samples

24. Results of full-shift air sampling for styrene, Plant 7, Personal Breathing-Zone Samples

25. Plant 6 General-Area Sample Results

26. Plant 6 Personal Breathing-Zone Sample Results

27. Plant 6 re-grouped Personal Breathing-Zone Sample Results

28. Plant 7 General-Area Sample Results

29. Plant 7 Personal Breathing-Zone Sample Results

30. Results of Plant 7 Ventilation Assessment *Indicate a dirty filter **No filter. Therefore, velocity profiles were uneven and highly variable

31. Personal and Area Dosimetry Results

32. Total noise exposure-- VEC vs. Plant

33. Discussion and conclusions: Styrene exposure: • Interpretation of the results of styrene exposure in different locations and for different jobs. • Comparison of the results to NIOSH (REL) and ACGIH (TLV). Noise • Comparison of noise results of personal and area measurements with NIOSH (REL) and OSHA (AL). • Comparison of noise measurement between different locations and plants and present interpretation of the difference.

34. Recommendations: • Summary of objectives (quantify noise and styrene exposure) evaluate engineering controls). • Recommendations are made with the intent to mitigate or eliminate some of the concerns associated with the measured styrene and noise exposure • Redesign of ventilation system • Effective hearing conservation program. A high risk of hearing loss in case of combined exposure to solvents and noise. References

35. Thank You